THROW WITH CAUTION

SCOTT HOLLAND

Thursday

Aug 9, 2018 at 5:00 PMAug 9, 2018 at 5:34 PM

Defensive backs a deep, veteran group

Two seasons ago, if you wanted to move the ball against the Western Illinois defense, you put it in the air. The Leathernecks were one of the worst teams in FCS against the pass, allowing close to 300 yards per game.

Toward the end of the 2016, coach Charlie Fisher and his staff went for broke, turning to several untested, young players. While the move did not pay off that season, the team missed the postseason, the move worked in 2017 as the squad stayed young and switched to the 3-4 defense.

Heading into the 2018 season, the move looks even better as that young, untested unit is now one of the more veteran groups on the squad.

Behind seniors Justin Fitzpatrick (played in all 12 games last year), Timothy Smith (10 games played), Xavier Rowe (played in all 12 games), redshirt junior Eric Carrera (played in all 12 games) and true juniors Darron Wheeler (played in all 12 games) and Mike Viti (played in all 12 games), the Leathernecks look deep, experienced and talented in the defensive backfield.

“Me, Tim Smith, Xavier Rowe and Eric Carrera, we’ve been here four or five years now, we came here together and we’ve bonded,” safety Justin Fitzpatrick said. “We’re at the point now that we can make calls nonverbally. We know each other, we’re so close, we’ve worked together so long and kind of have a telepathic thing going.”

Fitzpatrick will be one of the keys to the defense, stepping into a full-time starting role at safety that was previously handled by graduated players Aaron Diggs and David Griffith.

“It’s weird being the old head in the room now, but Griff and Diggs helped me so much since I got to campus,” Fitzpatrick said. “I played corner my first two years here but they took me on my first visit here and been with me since the start.

“I want to try to make them proud, they showed me everything I know, I try to model myself after them. now that I’m in their role, I want to try to do the same they did for me and help the younger guys.”

A season ago, an injury to Diggs forced Fitzpatrick not only into a starting spot, but forced him to slide to safety. With a full season at the position and a starting spot under his belt, the senior from O’Fallon, Missouri is good with where he stands.

“I’m 100 percent comfortable at safety, when I came, I thought I was going to play safety, then they moved me to corner,” he said. “I think they thought I could help at corner, now this will be my first full year at safety. I’m so comfortable though, I love safety and do not want to move back to corner. I could if I have to, but I’m comfortable at safety.”

Reach Scott Holland via email at sholland@McDonoughVoice.com and follow him on Twitter @hottscolland81

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